Hastings and Rye select Sarah Owen

AWS row – Might Ann Clwyd cancel her retirement from parliament and stand in 2015?

Despite announcing that she was stepping down as MP for Cynon Valley earlier this year, Ann Clwyd might have had a change of heart – she’s said she might stand again in the General Election. Speaking to Wales Online, 76 year old Clwyd – who’s been the MP for Cynon Valley for 30 years – confirmed rumours that local constituents had been asking for her to run as the Labour candidate next May. She said “I have received many letters from […]

Douglas Alexander calls for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza

Violence in Gaza has continued to increase in recent days. The most current stage of fighting in the conflict between Israel and Palestine began 15 days ago and officials say at least  649 Palestinians and 31 Israelis have been killed. International leaders have urged both Hamas and the Israeli government to accept the Egyptian ceasefire proposal, and last week Ed Miliband also encouraged both sides to “return to the negotiating table.” Today, Douglas Alexander, shadow foreign secretary, has released a statement […]

Tom Watson calls on anonymous Shadow Cabinet briefers to resign

Tom Watson has called on Shadow Cabinet members who anonymously brief their dissatisfaction about the Labour leadership to keep quiet, or follow him to the backbenches. In an interview with the New Statesman, Watson slams negative briefers as “cowardly”, saying: “The frustrating thing is that there have been some shadow cabinet members who have briefed off the record and said some critical things about Ed. That’s the most cowardly thing in the world. If they feel very strongly about things, […]

Can people-power curb violent youth gangs?

By Steve Reed

Violent youth gangs are menacing many of Britain’s inner-urban areas, and there’s evidence the problem is moving to the suburbs and smaller towns. Police statistics show that over the past three years violent gangs in London have committed over 6,600 crimes. That includes 24 murders, 28 attempted murders, 170 incidents involving a gun, and 738 involving a knife. For neighbourhoods affected by high levels of youth-gang activity the danger is clear and present and continues to tear communities apart and […]

Further and Higher Education – the keys to boosting our nation’s future

This post is written by Paul Blomfield and Nic Dakin Education, skills and training transform people’s lives, the prospects of communities, and the future of the economy. In government our task will be to energise Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) to collaborate even more successfully, driving innovation and improving skills. To meet the present and future skills challenges we must see FE and HE as equal partners. For too long our aspirations for vocational qualifications have been too low. […]